Just one week ago, “sources” would not shut up about how Prince Andrew truly believed that Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit would “blow over” and he would be back to royal duties next spring, in time for the Jubilee. That was before the first virtual hearing in Giuffre’s lawsuit, which was on Monday. They were trying to figure out if Andrew had been properly served, and the American judge said yes, Andrew had been served, but everyone was willing to allow the British courts determine it too. Well, a British high court ruled on Wednesday that yes, of course Andrew had been properly served by the Americans. So now things can proceed. While I’m sure there will be tons of other bullsh-t procedural issues, apparently this was the first time Andrew even considered the idea that he might not escape accountability much longer.
Just last week Prince Andrew was convinced he would easily beat Virginia Giuffre’s sex allegations against him. But sources have revealed his bullish mood has changed after the High Court announced on Monday it will act to serve US civil case papers on him. And the Duke of York is now bracing himself for a legal battle that he fears could go on for years and end up costing him millions of pounds.
Legal experts have predicted Giuffre could be awarded around £14million if she wins. The Mirror revealed last week the Prince was so confident the case would collapse he planned to return to royal duties. But insiders revealed he is now giving off a different vibe.
One source said: “He’s not been his usual blasé self, acting like everything is in hand. The issue has suddenly become very pressing and there is a distinct tension in the air. There has been a dramatic shift in mood and the reality that this could not only go on for many months, if not years, as well as costing potentially millions of pounds is very real.”
Another insider added: “The stark reality is that the Duke and his team need to face the fact they need to address this.”
Ms Guiffre’s lawyer David Boies said: “We are hopeful that Prince Andrew will now stop trying to evade and delay facing his accuser in court. The bottom line is Andrew is being served. He cannot refuse.”
In another blow for Andrew, the American judge refused to unseal a document the Prince’s lawyers claim would invalidate Ms Giuffre’s claim. The document, signed by his accuser, allegedly prevents her from suing. But Andrew will now have to make a legal request for a copy and that would mean accepting he has been served the lawsuit.
The High Court will now begin making arrangements for service of proceedings on the Duke giving him details of the claim against him. Once served, his legal team would have 21 days to respond.
There’s a sealed document signed by Virginia which prevents her from suing? What in the human trafficking…? I believe that there was a similar situation with Ghislaine Maxwell, and Virginia successfully scared the bejesus out of Maxwell to the point where Maxwell settled out of court with Virginia. Plus, it’s getting harder for those kinds of things to be enforced, especially when it’s about criminal matters like human trafficking. As for Andrew realizing that he’s up Sh-t Creek without a paddle, I doubt this will last. In another week, royal sources will be going on and on about how Andrew is still convinced he can beat this thing and come back.
MIRROR: Andrew ‘is now worried’ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/1EKKPEou6V
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) September 16, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
I work as a paralegal at the law firm of Dick Wolf & Associates and the document in question is one in which Virginia alleges agrees to hold harmless any associates of Epstein – here’s the rub, Andrew has said repeatedly that he was not an associate, that they were just friendly acquaintances. So, how can he be held harmless UNLESS he admits to being an associate of Epsteins, which carries all sorts of baggage.
Andrew doesn’t have to admit to being an associate— his attorney can lay down a primary argument of whatever, then as a secondary argument say “even if, as plaintiff alleges, defendant was an associate of Mr. Epstein and/or Ms. Maxwell, her claim has no merit because of this agreement she signed” etc. So he doesn’t say he’s an associate, but says that if he was an associate (which he’s not admitting to), her claim is invalid.
Mummy isn’t going to be able to clean this up—the discovery alone will be one atomic bomb after another, and there’s still a potential SDNY criminal case—Epstein was basically a blackmailer and money launderer and Andy is a greedy, amoral dimwit.
“Your Honor, I’m not saying that I’m a nonce, but just hypothetically of course, can I claim to be a nonce and also argue that I’m not a nonce.” That’s the crux of his argument.
What his next defense going to be: That as a royal prince he has a god given right to rape and pillage at will?
@eating popcorn — I read your comment and thought “how can this person be posting about their firm’s actual cases?!” Took me two reads to get the Dick Wolf & Associates part. I need that laugh! Thanks!
I think the rub is the settlement document covers associates who engaged in the activities. So if he does claim that he is covered by the prior document and her claim is dismissed, he is by default admitting he raped girls that were not old enough to consent/had been trafficked. Which would bolster any federal case against him. It’s well played for Virginia because she gets him either way, either in a payout for the lawsuit or no lawsuit money but it helps the FBI get justice for her and others.
All according to my Dick Wolf College of Law Degree specialization in victims of special crimes …
Maybe instead of associate, the term used is accomplice. 🤔
I, too, graduated from the Dick Wolff International College of Law (Summa Cum Laude!) and I concur: His ass is GRASS, either way.
Your business card should be in my Rolodex- i howled when I read you work for Dick Wolf…
I think its part of her settlement with Maxwell, it says something about how she won’t sue Maxwell “and other associates” or something like that (one of the linked articles in one of the recent posts about Andrew talked about it.) Something like that. So Andrew is hoping to use that to shut this whole thing down.
Anyway at least someone there is starting to realize that this looks really bad and its not just going to disappear. This is a civil lawsuit in the US. Andrew can’t just ignore it.
I think so, too. At the end of the day, I don’t think it will hold up. It’s not just the legality of it, it’s that the agreement was signed before Epstein died in jail & before Maxwell was jailed for sex trafficking. The case is SO high profile now. One could argue that shouldn’t matter, but it does.
I’ve said before on here that Andrew is a nightmare client. I don’t think he appreciates how desperate his attorneys seem in this case.
I’m quite sure Andrew must be the very worst type of client. For a start, he is colossally stupid, but like a lot of colossally stupid people, thinks he’s rather clever. Add to that his arrogance and entitlement. I would think he won’t listen to advice (he will think he knows better than his lawyers, plus he obviously has a deep conviction that he’ll get away with it because of mummy), and I bet the lawyers have a real struggle keeping him under control.
@ TabithaD, yes, PedoAndy is the very worst type of client, which will benefit not only VG, but those of us who want him held accountable. Pedo will go rogue and it will further the hole that is being dug for him, which he certainly deserves. I hope that at the end of this, VG is able to have her day in court and come out victorious!! VG has come out of a horrible situation that destroyed her childhood and I applaud the fact that she is so strong to be challenging those who perpetrated her trafficking. But those who she was trafficked for are famous people with an unlimited supply of influence and money.
I say this as a rape victim, by a co-worker, that didn’t have the balls to report him and follow through with having him held accountable. It pains me as he probably continued to rape women and I didn’t take action to protect other potential victims.
@BothSidesNow I am so very sorry that happened to you. I know you are judging yourself harshly, please don’t. Many hugs.
I do love a happy story to end the week.
Also, props to BBC news for using the picture of him with his hands all over her each time the post a story about this. They have sunk so far in my estimation in recent years but there is a sliver of integrity left.
Whether or not the document is unsealed, Andrew is f*cked and has been for a while. Good.
But really, imagine saying someone has been blase about being accused of human trafficking and rape. These people operate on an entirely different level, truly.
I’m not buying this story. One hearing did not erase Andrew’s enormous sense of self fed by a lifetime of unthinkable privilege.
Teehee we all know Andrew doesn’t sweet the small stuff!
Worrying is for peasants with bills to pay!
If we’re to believe Prince Nonce, he doesn’t sweat at all…
Yeah, me too. Last week this same reporter, Russell Myers, was saying Andrew was convinced that he would return to royal duties next year. Team Andrew is playing Russ like a fiddle.
The only way it makes sense to me is if some of Epsteins’ other high-flying ‘friends’ got together and sent a representative to Andrew to impress upon him just how much Andrew would prefer to settle this as quietly as is still possible and then fade into the background.
I tend to imagine Andrew as the least unpleasant and least criminal of this particular social circle, but also one of the least powerful in a practical sense.
Could any of the attorneys here tell me if I’m thinking correctly that VG will continue with the case long enough to get PA into a deposition where he will hopefully say something arrogant, stupid, and revealing under oath, that can eventually be used against him and/or GM in a criminal proceeding before finally agreeing to settle for a decent amount of money?
(I’m a fledgling student at the Dick Wolf School of Law, so I don’t know all the nuances.)
LOL. Since I am way to invested in this case, Judge Preska’s order in Giuffre v. Dershowitz (the order is accessible to the public, it’s not confidential):
The Court is in receipt of Mr. Dershowitz’s [request] to allow him to disclose a settlement agreement designated as confidential . . . to counsel for Prince Andrew (a case in which Mr. Dershowitz is not a party). . . . Mr. Dershowitz seeks this “as a matter of professional ethics” to fulfill his “professional obligation” to ensure that Ms. Giuffre cannot assert claims in another lawsuit that Mr. Dershowitz believes are barred based on his reading of a settlement agreement.
There is no basis for Mr. Dershowitz’s requesting a document subject to the protective order for use in another case to which he is not a party. To the Court’s knowledge, Mr. Dershowitz has not been commissioned as a roving ethics monitor.
The Court notes, however, that parties who have standing (here, for example, Ms. Giuffre . . . and perhaps Prince Andrew, who has not been heard from) may seek to lift the protective order for valid reasons and, as Ms. Giuffre’s counsel noted, Prince Andrew is likely to seek to obtain the settlement agreement in discovery. . . .
Accordingly, for the reasons noted above, Mr. Dershowitz’s request to permit disclosure of the settlement agreement is denied.
————–
LOLOLOLOL: “To the Court’s knowledge, Mr. Dershowitz has not been commissioned as a roving ethics monitor.”
Can’t stop laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So basically Prince Andrew’s attorneys asked for a copy of the settlement agreement from Dershowitz, Dershowitz filed the request, Judge Preska benchslapped him and denied. They’re all trying to cover each other’s backs. Also, Dershowitz, talking about “professional ethics.” OMG ROTFLOL
Hilarious. Dershowitz really needs to sit down but he buys the hype that he’s some sort of towering legal intellect. He’s rightfully terrified of Virginia being able to tell the truth. “Yes, I was massaged by a sex trafficked minor, but I kept my underwear on,” isn’t the defense you think it is, Alan.
Whenever I read that defense by Dershowitz I chuckle all over again.
What a douche bag. After that slap down, he should Just go away and slither back under his rock.
Why is it so unsurprising that Dershowitz would be trying to help Prince Andrew? Birds of a feather really do flock together. That just made Andrew look even more guilty! Next thing you know Giuliani will be coming to his rescue.
Not in an official capacity, obviously, but I could see some TwitterWarrior stuff as a ‘friend of a friend’. Andrew don’t got the money to pay Rudy either, and Rudy can’t really afford to do much pro bono stuff at the moment.
“roving ethics monitor” I love it!!!
@ Becks1, I know! As if the word “ethics” could ever be associated with his name, or PedoAndys name as well!!
Dershowitz has made claims that Virginia has a history of extorting prominent men in Epstein’s circle. He’s called her lawsuit an elaborate extortion scam, but his assertion that there was an extortion attempt is nothing more than a smokescreen. When rats are cornered they come out fighting dirty. Dershowitz is now suing Netflix and CNN over the documentary “Filthy Rich” and CNN’s coverage of his work defending Donald Trump. This guy is as slimy as they come and was in Epstein’s inner circle so I have no doubt he was forcing himself on these poor girls as well.
Dershowitz is such absolute trash. And he has the temerity to go on about how great he is. My god. These men really think they are so far above the law and common morality.
It goes back to how ill advised the royal family is. No matter what story he told his mother years ago when this first came to light, the courtiers should have looked into it and quietly settle with Virginia if the security log gave credence to her claim.
They had a chance to settle before this lawsuit was filed and did not. They can settle it now and cut their losses, put an embargo on any pictures of Andrew, remove him from the remaining patronages and keep him away from royal events. But we all know that is not what this family will do, we can all sit back and watch the train wreck that’s coming.
Ugh i hate that the Mirror calls them “sex allegations” at the very least it’s “rape allegations” or “sexual abuse allegations” ffs 🤬
@ Mtec, as if the Mirror had any integrity! They are at the very least trying to downplay VG claims. It’s always the victim that people attack when it should be the perpetrator.
Consequences.
Contracts which make victims of crimes or sexual harassment in the workplace waive their right to sue, should be banned. Harvey Weinstein got away with what he did for decades because courts allow these kinds of contracts to be enforced.
He should worry about ending up in jail, not having to pay millions.
Dershowitz is such a dirtbag. No wonder his tony friends in Newport and Cape Cod have given him the cold shoulder. There’s not one criminal piece of shit I can think of whom he didn’t represent.
He’s going to have to rely on Mummy’s money and as these Windsors are notorious skinflints, I’m wondering how this is going to go down over time.
I notice the media seems to be redoubling its coverage of Andrew’s ex Fergie and their two daughters. There is a huge PR spin for Beatrice and her “bump” and “fashions.” She is all over the media now.
Setting the York women up for a fall?
Haaaa, they’re worried about the ‘few millions’ this one individual is going to cost them. Wait until she emerges triumphant and others get the courage to confront him as well. The brf will have the me too movement right in their tea.